The Grevin Museum in Paris has found itself in hot water after unveiling a rather underwhelming waxwork figure of the legendary actor Dwayne Johnson. In response to fan outcry over a significant flaw, the museum has vowed to urgently rectify the issue, acknowledging their failure to capture the true essence of the 6ft 5in muscleman.
The waxwork’s release garnered immediate attention on the internet, with fans quick to point out a major discrepancy – the figure’s skin tone was drastically paler than that of the beloved actor. Many accused the creators of ‘whitewashing’ The Rock, who boasts dual heritage, as the figure resembled something closer to the iconic Mr. Clean than the charismatic actor.
Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, has Samoan roots through his mother and is of Black Canadian descent through his father. Unsurprisingly, he expressed his own disappointment in alignment with the fans and called upon the Grevin Museum to take action. Johnson shared, “For the record, I’m going to have my team reach out to our friends at Grevin Museum, in Paris, France, so we can work at ‘updating’ my wax figure here with some important details and improvements – starting with my skin color. And next time I’m in Paris, I’ll stop in and have a drink with myself.”
In response to the uproar, the Grevin Museum is now in a race against time to urgently rectify the waxwork’s issues. The dedicated staff is prepared to work tirelessly through the night to ensure a swift makeover.
Yves Delhommeau, the museum’s director, acknowledged that the skin tone discrepancy was a result of a ‘lighting issue’ and assured the public that it would be promptly addressed. Furthermore, it was revealed that Dwayne Johnson himself will visit the museum at a later date to assess any additional modifications that may be required.
Creating The Rock’s wax figure was no small feat, with sculptor Stéphane Barret facing numerous challenges. Due to the absence of direct access to the actor, Barret had to rely solely on photos and videos for reference. The museum explained on their website that their teams meticulously scoured various gyms in hopes of locating a man who closely matched The Rock’s extraordinary measurements. Painters dedicated ten days to painstakingly recreate the star’s intricate Samoan tattoos. Even the waxwork’s eyes had to be redone three times to achieve the desired warmth without appearing overly harsh.
However, despite these dedicated efforts, the end result left fans unimpressed. One disappointed viewer remarked, “That face doesn’t even look like him at all.” Another questioned, “This is so common in wax figures. I don’t understand how this keeps happening; it’s a shame.” A third concurred, emphasizing the importance of getting the details right, stating, “Wow, this really needs to be fixed. The details say a lot.”
The Grevin Museum in Paris houses an impressive collection of over 200 wax figures, with a track record of producing decent replicas of celebrities and public figures. Nevertheless, they have openly acknowledged their failure in the case of Dwayne Johnson’s wax figure, vowing to quickly rectify the issue to ensure it lives up to the high standards of their other exhibits.
